Tissue Flap Guide Plate for Uniform Thickness Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical techniques for preparing tissue flaps often result in inconsistent thickness, leading to localized damage of the blood supply and healing complications, particularly in procedures like mastectomy where precise tissue handling is critical.
Innovation Solution
A surgical device and method utilizing a guide plate with a peripheral ridge or slot to restrict the movement of a cutting tool within a predefined plane, combined with a tissue holder plate for stabilizing the tissue mass, ensuring uniform thickness of the tissue flap through controlled suction and tool movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If freehand surgical techniques are used to separate tissue layers, then the surgical procedure is simple and quick to perform, but the tissue flap thickness becomes inconsistent leading to localized damage of blood supply and healing complications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a surgical device with a guide plate and tissue holder as an intermediary tool between the surgeon's hand and the tissue. The guide plate with its planar surface and peripheral ridge provides a mechanical framework that constrains the cutting tool's movement, while the tissue holder with vacuum chamber securely positions the tissue mass. This intermediary device enables precise, uniform tissue flap thickness without requiring complex freehand techniques from the surgeon.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of cutting tool movement from freehand control to constrained movement within a predefined plane. The guide plate's peripheral ridge and planar slot define specific geometric parameters that limit the cutting tool's degrees of freedom, ensuring it moves only along the desired path at the correct angle relative to the tissue holder plate, thereby achieving uniform thickness.
2Manufacturing precision
If a cutting tool is used without movement restrictions, then the surgical operation is easier to perform, but the tissue flap thickness consistency deteriorates causing blood supply damage and healing complications
Solution Approach 1:
The guide plate acts as an intermediary that mediates between the surgeon's cutting action and the tissue. It provides a predefined plane with geometric constraints that automatically enforce consistent cutting depth and angle, reducing the skill burden on the surgeon while ensuring precise thickness control.
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical device is designed to be self-regulating through its geometric constraints. The guide plate's peripheral ridge and planar slot automatically guide the cutting tool's movement without requiring constant surgeon intervention or complex control mechanisms, making the device easy to operate while maintaining precision.
3Reliability
If the cutting tool moves freely relative to the tissue, then the surgical procedure is simpler to perform, but the tissue viability decreases due to inconsistent thickness and blood supply damage
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical device with guide plate and tissue holder serves as a protective intermediary that ensures reliable tissue viability outcomes. By mechanically constraining the cutting process, it prevents the harmful effects of inconsistent thickness that would otherwise damage blood supply, while the device's structure remains relatively simple and easy to implement.
4Reliability
If freehand cutting techniques are used, then the surgical time is reduced, but the healing complications increase due to localized blood supply damage from inconsistent tissue thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical device performs preliminary action by pre-defining the cutting plane and constraints before the actual cutting begins. The guide plate's geometry and tissue holder's vacuum grip are established upfront, ensuring that the subsequent cutting process automatically produces uniform thickness without requiring real-time skill adjustments, thereby improving healing outcomes with minimal time penalty.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures the preparation of tissue flaps with substantially uniform thickness, reducing healing complications and improving surgical outcomes by maintaining optimal tissue viability and consistency.
Implementation Method 1
a tissue holder plate defining a vacuum chamber configured to securely hold the tissue mass a predetermined distance from and orientation to the guide plate
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for holding a cutting tool at a predetermined distance from a defined cutting surface to prepare a tissue flap of substantially uniform thickness for optimal viability. A tissue holder plate having a vacuum chamber is provided to stabilize the tissue mass, and a cutting tool holder and guide plate restrict the movement of the cutting tool with respect to the tissue holder plate.